Therapeutic system and method

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a system and a method. The system may include a first device including a treatment head configured to emit a radiation beam. The system may include a second device comprising a body. The body may include one or more openings at a bottom of the recess that allow passage of the radiation beam substantially free of the interference by the body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/792,418, filed on Feb. 17, 2020, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/689,040 (now U.S.Pat. No. 10,561,859), filed on Aug. 29, 2017, which in turn claimspriority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201710737272.3 filed on Aug.24, 2017. The entire contents of each of the above-identifiedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL HELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a therapeutic system, andmore particularly, relates to an image-guided radiotherapy system whichcombines radiotherapy and magnetic resonance imaging technique.

BACKGROUND

Radiation therapy of a tumor is currently limited by the inability tofollow the motion of the tumor during treatment. Magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) technique has the potential to provide good images of thetumor, fast enough to allow imaging during treatment. This would allowaccurate dose deposition in the tumor and spare the surrounding tissue.Integration of MRI and Linear Accelerators (LINAC) opens new horizons inradiotherapy by improved lesion targeting, especially for moving organs.It may be desirable to provide systems for enhancing therapeuticefficiency with MRI technique.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided.The system may include a first device including a treatment headconfigured to emit a treatment beam. The system may include a seconddevice comprising a body. The body may include one or more openings thatallow passage of the treatment beam substantially free of theinterference by the body.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method isprovided. The method may be implemented using a system including a firstdevice and a second device. The first device may include a treatmenthead configured to emit a treatment beam. The second device may includea body. The body may include one or more openings that allow passage ofthe treatment beam substantially free of the interference by the body.The method may include determining a position of a treatment region. Themethod may include determining the position of the treatment region iswithin a preset range. The method may further include causing thetreatment head to emit the treatment beam toward the treatment region.

In some embodiments, the body may further include a recess on an outerwall of the body for accommodating at least a portion of the treatmenthead, and the more or more openings may be at a bottom of the recess.

In some embodiments, the system may further include a controllerconfigured to rotate the treatment head around the recess and locate thetreatment head at one or more positions corresponding to the one or moreopenings.

In some embodiments, the controller may match an axis of the treatmenthead to the axis of an opening of the one or more openings at the bottomof the recess.

In some embodiments, a depth of the recess may be determined accordingto an external diameter of the body, an inner diameter of the body, andan irradiating distance of the treatment head.

In some embodiments, the irradiating distance may relate to a distancebetween an end face of the treatment head and an axis of the body.

In some embodiments, the irradiating distance may range from 40centimeters to 50 centimeters.

In some embodiments, the depth of the recess may be no less than 50centimeters.

In some embodiments, a depth of at least one of the one or more openingsmay be determined according to the external diameter of the body, theinner diameter of the body, and the depth of the recess.

In some embodiments, a width of the recess may be greater than a widthof an opening of the one or more openings at the bottom of the recess.

In some embodiments, the one or more openings may be uniformlydistributed along the recess.

In some embodiments, an angle between axes of two adjacent openings ofthe one or more openings may be 180 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, 60degrees, or 30 degrees.

In some embodiments, shapes of the one or more openings may include atleast one of a rectangle, a rounded rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, arhombus, a polygon, or a rounded polygon.

In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more openings maycorrespond to an arc of a circumference of the recess.

In some embodiments, the arc may range from 1/10π radians to 3/2πradians.

In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more openings may be athrough hole.

In some embodiments, the at least one of the one or more openings may befilled up by a material that is at least partially radiationtransparent.

In some embodiments, the first device may include a radiotherapy device.

In some embodiments, the second device may include a magnetic resonanceimaging device, and the body may include a magnetic body configured togenerate a magnetic field.

In some embodiments, the magnetic body may further include one or moremain cons that are electrically connected to each other.

In some embodiments, if the position of the treatment region is notwithin the preset range, the position of the treatment region may beadjusted according to the preset range.

In some embodiments, if the position of the treatment region is notwithin the preset range, an adjusting angle may be determined based onthe position of the treatment region, and the treatment head may rotateaccording to the adjusting angle.

Additional features will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or maybe learned by production or operation of the examples. The features ofthe present disclosure may be realized and attained by practice or useof various aspects of the methodologies, instrumentalities, andcombinations set forth in the detailed examples discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is further described in terms of exemplaryembodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described in detail withreference to the drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplaryembodiments, in which like reference numerals represent similarstructures throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary therapeutic systemaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary therapeuticapparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary therapeutic apparatus according to someembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary therapeuticapparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary magnetic bodyaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of some components of an exemplarytherapeutic apparatus according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of some components of an exemplarytherapeutic apparatus according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for using atherapeutic system according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of some components of an exemplarytherapeutic apparatus according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary therapeutic apparatus according to someembodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary magnetic bodyaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present disclosure, and is provided in thecontext of a particular application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein maybe applied to other embodiments and applications without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context dearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise,”“comprises,” and/or “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and/or“including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present disclosure,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, may become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, allof which form a part of the present disclosure. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration and description only and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the drawings arenot to scale.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary therapeutic system100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Thetherapeutic system 100 may be a single modality imaging systemincluding, for example, a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system,a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a radiotherapy (RT) system, acomputed tomography angiography (CTA) system, a positron emissiontomography (PET) system, a single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) system, a computed tomography (CT) system, a digital radiography(DR) system, etc. In some embodiments, the therapeutic system 100 may bea multi-modality imaging system including, for example, a positronemission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) system, a positronemission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) system, apositron emission tomography-radiotherapy (PET-RT) system, a magneticresonance imaging-radiotherapy (MRI-RT) system, a single photon emissioncomputed tomography-positron emission tomography (SPECT-PET) system,etc. For better understanding the present disclosure, an MRI-RT systemmay be described as an example of the therapeutic system 100, and notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the therapeutic system 100 may include a therapeuticapparatus 110, a processing engine 120, a network 130, a storage device140, and one or more terminal devices 150. In some embodiments, thetherapeutic apparatus 110, the processing engine 120, the storage device140, and/or the terminal device 150 may be connected to and/orcommunicate with each other via a wireless connection (e.g., the network130), a wired connection, or any combination thereof.

The therapeutic apparatus 110 may generate image data associated withmagnetic resonance signals (hereinafter be referred to as “MR signals”)via scanning a subject or a part of the subject. In some embodiments,the subject may include a body, a substance, an object, or the like, orany combination thereof. In some embodiments, the subject may include aspecific portion of a body, a specific organ, or a specific tissue, suchas head, brain, neck, body, shoulder, arm, thorax, cardiac, stomach,blood vessel, soft tissue, knee, feet, or the like, or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the therapeutic apparatus 110 may transmitthe image data via the network 130 to the processing engine 120, thestorage device 140, and/or the terminal device 150. For example, theimage data may be sent to the processing engine 120 for furtherprocessing, or may be stored in the storage device 140.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic apparatus 110 may provide radiationfor tumor treatment. The radiation used herein may include a particleray, a photon ray, etc. The particle ray may include neutron, proton,electron, μ-meson, heavy ion, or the like, or any combination thereof.The photon ray may include X-ray, γ-ray, α-ray, β-ray, ultraviolet,laser, or the like, or any combination thereof. For illustrationpurposes, a radiotherapy apparatus associated with X-ray may bedescribed as an example. In some embodiments, the therapeutic apparatus110 may generate a dose of X-rays to perform radiotherapy under theassistance of image data. For example, the image data may be processedto locate a tumor and/or determine the dose of X-rays.

The processing engine 120 may process data and/or information obtainedfrom the therapeutic apparatus 110, the storage device 140, and/or theterminal device 150. For example, the processing engine 120 may processimage data and reconstruct at least one MR image based on the imagedata. As another example, the processing engine 120 may determine theposition of the tumor and the dose of radiation based on the at leastone MR image. The MRI image may provide advantages including, forexample, superior soft-tissue contrast, high resolution, geometricaccuracy, which may allow accurate positioning of the treatment region.For instance, the MRI image may be used to detect the tumor regressionor metastasis on the basis of which an original treatment plan may beadjusted accordingly. The original treatment plan may be determinedbefore the treatment commences. For instance, the original treatmentplan may be determined at least one day, or three days, or a week, ortwo weeks; or a month, etc., before the treatment commences. Thetreatment region may change between when the treatment plan isdetermined and when the treatment is carried out, which may be detectedbased on the acquired MR image. In the original or adjusted treatmentplan; the dose of radiation may be determined according to, for example,synthetic electron density information. In some embodiments, thesynthetic electron density information may be generated based on the MRIimage. In some embodiments, the synthetic electron density informationmay be generated based on the MRI image and another type of image, forexample, a CT image. In some embodiments, the processing engine 120 maybe a single server or a server group. The server group may becentralized or distributed. In some embodiments, the processing engine120 may be local or remote. For example, the processing engine 120 mayaccess information and/or data from the therapeutic apparatus 110, thestorage device 140, and/or the terminal device 150 via the network 130.As another example; the processing engine 120 may be directly connectedto the therapeutic apparatus 110, the terminal device 150, and/or thestorage device 140 to access information and/or data. In someembodiments; the processing engine 120 may be implemented on a cloudplatform. For example, the cloud platform may include a private cloud, apublic cloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, a distributed cloud, aninter-cloud, a multi-cloud, or the like, or any combination thereof.

The network 130 may include any suitable network that can facilitate theexchange of information and/or data for the therapeutic system 100. Insome embodiments, one or more components of the therapeutic system 100(e.g., the therapeutic apparatus 110, the processing engine 120, thestorage device 140, or the terminal device 150) may communicateinformation and/or data with one or more other components of thetherapeutic system 100 via the network 130. For example, the processingengine 120 may obtain image data from the therapeutic apparatus 110 viathe network 130. As another example, the processing engine 120 mayobtain user instructions from the terminal device 150 via the network130. The network 130 may include a public network (e.g., the Internet),a private network (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN)), etc.), a wired network (e.g., an Ethernet network), a wirelessnetwork (e.g., an 802.11 network, a Wi-Fi network, etc.), a cellularnetwork (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), a frame relaynetwork, a virtual private network (“VPN”), a satellite network, atelephone network, routers, hubs, switches, server computers, or thelike, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the network 130may include one or more network access points. For example, the network130 may include wired and/or wireless network access points such as basestations and/or internet exchange points through which one or morecomponents of the therapeutic system 100 may be connected to the network130 to exchange data and/or information.

The storage device 140 may store data, instructions, and/or any otherinformation. In some embodiments, the storage device 140 may store dataobtained from the processing engine 120 and/or the terminal device 150.In some embodiments, the storage device 140 may store data and/orinstructions that the processing engine 120 may execute or use toperform exemplary methods described in the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the storage device 140 may include a mass storage device, aremovable storage device, a volatile read-and-write memory, a read-onlymemory (ROM), or the like, or any combination thereof. Exemplary massstorage may include a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a solid-statedrive, etc. Exemplary removable storage may include a flash drive, afloppy disk, an optical disk, a memory card, a zip disk, a magnetictape, etc. Exemplary volatile read-and-write memory may include a randomaccess memory (RAM). Exemplary RAM may include a dynamic RAM (DRAM), adouble date rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM), a static RAM(SRAM), a thyristor RAM (T-RAM), a zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), etc.Exemplary ROM may include a mask ROM (MROM), a programmable ROM (PROM),an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasableprogrammable ROM (EEPROM), a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disk ROM, etc. In some embodiments, the storage device 140 maybe implemented on a cloud platform as described elsewhere in the presentdisclosure.

In some embodiments, the storage device 140 may be connected to thenetwork 130 to communicate with one or more other components of thetherapeutic system 100 (e.g., the processing engine 120 or the terminaldevice 150). One or more components of the therapeutic system 100 mayaccess the data or instructions stored in the storage device 140 via thenetwork 130. In some embodiments, the storage device 140 may be part ofthe processing engine 120.

The terminal device 150 may be connected to and/or communicate with thetherapeutic apparatus 110, the processing engine 120, and/or the storagedevice 140. For example, the processing engine 120 may acquire ascanning protocol from the terminal device 150. As another example, theterminal device 150 may obtain image data from the therapeutic 110and/or the storage device 140. In some embodiments, the terminal device150 may include a mobile device 151, a tablet computer 152, a laptopcomputer 153, or the like, or any combination thereof. For example, themobile device 151 may include a mobile phone, a personal digitalassistance (FDA), a gaming device, a navigation device, a point of sale(POS) device, a laptop, a tablet computer, a desktop, or the like, orany combination thereof. In some embodiments, the terminal device 150may include an input device, an output device, etc. The input device mayinclude alphanumeric and other keys that may be input via a keyboard, atouch screen (for example, with haptics or tactile feedback), a speechinput, an eye tracking input, a brain monitoring system, or any othercomparable input mechanism. The input information received through theinput device may be transmitted to the processing engine 120 via, forexample, a bus, for further processing. Other types of the input devicemay include a cursor control device, such as a mouse, a trackball, orcursor direction keys, etc. The output device may include a display, aspeaker, a printer, or the like, or any combination thereof. In someembodiments, the terminal device 150 may be part of the processingengine 120.

This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the present disclosure. Many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features,structures, methods, and characteristics of the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additionaland/or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, the storagedevice 140 may be a data storage including cloud computing platforms,such as public cloud, private cloud, community, hybrid clouds, etc. Insome embodiments, the processing engine 120 may be integrated into thetherapeutic apparatus 110. However, those variations and modificationsdo not depart the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary therapeuticapparatus 110 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.The therapeutic apparatus 110 may include an MRI device 200, aradiotherapy device 300, a treatment table 400, and a controller 500. Itis understood that the MRI device 200 is referred to herein forillustration purposes only, and not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. The description provided herein may be applied inother devices or systems including, for example, a positron emissiontomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) device, a positronemission tomography-radiotherapy (PET-RT) system, etc.

The MRI device 200 may include a magnetic body 210, one or more gradientcoils 220, and one or more radiofrequency (RF) coils 230. The magneticbody 210 may generate a static magnetic field BO during an MRI process.The magnetic body 210 may be of various types including, for example, apermanent magnet, a superconducting electromagnet, a resistiveelectromagnet, etc. The superconducting electromagnet may includeniobium, vanadium, technetium alloy, etc.

The gradient coil 220 may generate magnetic field gradients to the mainmagnetic field BO in the X, Y, and/or Z directions (or axes). In someembodiments, the gradient coil may include an X-direction coil (oraxis), a Y-direction coil (or axis), a Z-direction coil (or axis), etc.For example, the Z-direction coil may be designed based on circular(Maxwell) coil, while the X-direction coil and the Y-direction coil maybe designed on the basis of the saddle (Golay) coil configuration. Asused herein, the X direction may also be referred to as the readout (RO)direction (or a frequency encoding direction), the Y direction may bealso referred to the phase encoding (PE) direction, the Z direction mayalso be referred to the slice selecting encoding (SPE) direction. In thepresent disclosure, the readout direction and the frequency encodingdirection may be used interchangeably. The gradient magnetic fields mayinclude a slice selecting encoding (SPE) gradient field corresponding toZ-direction, a phase encoding (PE) gradient field corresponding toY-direction, a readout (RO) gradient field corresponding to X-direction,etc. The gradient magnetic fields in different directions may be used toencode the spatial information of MR signals. In some embodiments, thegradient magnetic fields may also be used to perform at least onefunction of flow encoding, flow compensation, flow dephasing, or thelike, or any combination thereof.

The RF coil 230 may emit RF pulse signals to and/or receive MR signalsfrom a subject (e.g., a human body) being examined. In some embodiments,the RF coil may include an RF transmitting coil and an RF receivingcoil. The RF transmitting coil may emit RF pulse signals that may excitethe nucleus in the human body to resonate at the Larmor frequency. TheRF receiving coil may receive MR signals emitted from the human body. Insome embodiments, the RF transmitting coil and RF receiving coil may beintegrated into one single coil, for example, a transmitting/receivingcoil. The RF coil 230 may be of various types including, for example, aOD orthogonal coil, a phase-array coil, a specific element spectrumcoil, etc. In some embodiments, the RF coil 230 may be differentaccording to different parts of a body being examined, for example, ahead coil, a knee joint coil, a cervical vertebra coil, a thoracicvertebra coil, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) coil, etc. In someembodiments, according to function and size, the RF coil 230 may includea volume coil, a local coil, a birdcage coil, a transverseelectromagnetic coil, a surface coil, a saddle coil, or the like, or anycombination thereof. As another example, the local coil may include asolenoid coil, a saddle coil, a flexible coil, etc. In some embodiments,the MRI device 200 may be a permanent magnet MR scanner, asuperconducting electromagnet MR scanner, or a resistive electromagnetMR scanner, etc., according to types of the magnetic body. In someembodiments, the MRI device 200 may be a high-field MR scanner, amid-field MR scanner, and a low-field MR scanner, etc., according to theintensity of the magnetic field.

It should be noted that the above description is merely provided for thepurposes of illustration, and not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. For persons having ordinary skills in the art,multiple variations or modification may be made under the teaching ofthe present disclosure. For example, the MRI device 200 may furtherinclude a shield coil, a shim coil, a cooling device, a liquid heliumDewar vessel, or the like, or any combination thereof. However, thosevariations and modifications do not depart from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The radiotherapy device 300 may include a treatment head 310, atreatment arm 320, a gantry 330, and a pedestal 340. The treatment head310 may be configured to emit a radiation beam. For example, thetreatment head 310 may include a radiation source 311 to emit theradiation beam. The radiation beam may be an X-ray beam, an electronbeam, a gamma ray source, a proton ray source, etc. The treatment head310 may be used to direct a radiation beam generated by the radiationsource 311 into a treatment region. The treatment head 310 may beinstalled on the gantry 330 by the treatment arm 320. The gantry 330 maybe supported by the pedestal 340. The treatment arm 320 may be anylength desired. In some embodiments, the treatment arm 320 may have alength sufficient to position the treatment head 310. In someembodiments, the treatment arm 320 may have a length sufficient toaccelerate particles, such as electrons. In some embodiments, thetreatment head 310 may include an electron beam generator.

It should be noted that the above description is merely provided for thepurposes of illustration, and not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. For persons having ordinary skills in the art,multiple variations or modification may be made under the teaching ofthe present disclosure. For example, the radiotherapy device 300 mayfurther include a linear accelerator (LINAC) configured to accelerateelectrons, ions, or protons, a dose detecting device, a temperaturecontrolling device (e.g., a cooling device), a multiple layercollimator, or the like, or any combination thereof. However, thosevariations and modifications do not depart from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The treatment table 400 may include a platform 410 for supporting apatient and a base frame 420. In some embodiments, the treatment table400 may further include a patient positioning system for adjusting theposition of a patient so that a treatment region (e.g., a tumor) in thepatient may receive treatment rays from the radiotherapy device 300.

The controller 500 may be configured to control the radiotherapy device300, the treatment table 400, and/or the MRI device 200. In someembodiments, the terminal device 150 may send an instruction to theprocessing engine 120 for processing. The controller 500 may obtain theinstruction processed by the processing engine 120 to control theradiotherapy device 300, the treatment table 400, and/or the MRI device200. In some embodiments, the controller 500 may control an angle of thegantry 330 by rotating the gantry 330. In some embodiments, thecontroller may control the MRI device 200 to image a treatment region.For example, the controller 500 may perform specific functions relatedto a scanning of a part of an imaged subject. In some embodiments, thecontroller 500 may control a cooling system built in the magnetic body210 of the MRI device 200, and the magnetic body 210 may be maintainedin a super-low temperature environment generated by the cooling system.In some embodiments, the controller 500 may adjust a height or aposition of the platform 410 by a positioning system built in oroperably connected to the treatment table 400 to properly position apatient so that a treatment region (e.g., a cancerous tumor or lesion)in the patient may receive treatment rays from the radiotherapy device300. In some embodiments, the controller 500 may drive the platform 410of the treatment table 400 to move along an axis of the magnetic body210. In some embodiments, the controller 500 may cause the platform 410of the treatment table 400 to move two-dimensionally orthree-dimensionally. The movement may include, for example, translation,rotation, or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments,the controller 500 may cause the platform 410 of the treatment table tobe positioned such that the tumor is positioned on the axis 370 of theradiotherapy device 300. In some embodiments, the controller 500 maymove the platform 410 of the treatment table 400 according to a realtime MR image obtained shortly before or during a treatment as describedelsewhere in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the controller500 may drive a treatment head to rotate around the MRI device 200. Insome embodiments, the controller 500 may further cause the treatmenthead to arrive at a suitable position to emit radiation toward atreatment region.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary therapeutic apparatus 110 according tosome embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 3,the therapeutic apparatus 110 may include an MRI device 200, aradiotherapy device 300, and a treatment table 400. The MRI device 200may include a bore 201, a magnetic body 210, and a recess 202. The bore201 may accommodate a patient. The MRI device 200 may be configured toacquire image data from an imaging region. For example, the image datamay relate to the treatment region associated with a tumor. Thetreatment table 400 may include a platform 410 and a base frame 420. Insome embodiments, the platform 410 may move along the horizontaldirection and enter into the bore 201 of the MRI device 200. In someembodiments, the platform 410 may move two-dimensionally orthree-dimensionally. In some embodiments, the platform 410 may moveaccording to the position change of the tumor estimated by, for example,a real time MR image obtained during a treatment. The radiotherapydevice 300 may include a treatment head 310, a treatment arm 320, agantry 330, and a pedestal 340. In some embodiments, a treatment region(e.g., a tumor) may be determined according to the image data acquiredfrom the MRI device 200. Then a radiation beam may be generated by theradiation source 311 (as described in FIG. 2) according to the treatmentregion. The therapeutic apparatus 110 may provide the radiation beam onthe treatment region simultaneously with or subsequent to the imaging.For example, the dose of the radiation beam and/or the position of thetreatment region may be determined in real time with the assistance ofthe MRI device 200 as described in connection with FIG. 1. More detaileddescription related to the therapeutic apparatus 110 may be foundelsewhere in the present disclosure. See, for example, FIG. 4, FIG. 5,FIG. 6, and FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary therapeuticapparatus 110 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.As shown in FIG. 4, the therapeutic apparatus 110 may include an MRIdevice 200 and a radiotherapy device 300. The MRI device 200 may includea magnetic body 210 and a bore 201. The bore 201 may have a first axis211 (marked as the dotted line in FIG. 4). The radiotherapy device 300may include a treatment head 310, a treatment arm 320, a gantry 330, anda pedestal 340, and a bore 360. The bore 360 may have a second axis 370(marked as the dotted line in FIG. 4) in the gantry 330. In someembodiments, the first axis 211 may coincide with or approximatelycoincide with the second axis 370.

In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 and part of the treatmentarm 320 may be set around the magnetic body 210. In some embodiments,the magnetic body 210 may include a recess 202 on its outer wall. Insome embodiments, the recess 202 may be disposed around the entirecircumference of the magnetic body 210. For example, the recess 202 mayhave the shape of a circle surrounding the magnetic body 210. In someembodiments, the recess 202 may be disposed around part of thecircumference of the magnetic body 210. For example, the recess 202 mayhave the shape of one or more arcs surrounding the magnetic body 210.

In some embodiments, the recess 202 may accommodate at least a portionof the treatment head 310. This arrangement may reduce a distancebetween the treatment head 310 and the axis 211 of the bore 201. In someembodiments, the reduction in the distance between the treatment head310 and the axis 211 of the bore 201 may bring about an increase of theradiation dose that may reach the treatment region (e.g., a tumor)and/or an enhancement in the therapeutic efficiency. In someembodiments, the width of the recess 202 may be no less than the widthof the treatment head 310. In some embodiments, by controlling thegantry 330 by the controller 500, the treatment head 310 may rotate atleast partially within the recess 202 of the magnetic body 210. Forexample, during treatment, by rotating the gantry 330, the radiationbeam from the treatment head 310 may be directed toward a treatmentregion at any angle (e.g., 0 degree, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees,120 degrees).

In some embodiments, the recess 202 may include a first opening 203 a, asecond opening 203 b, a third opening 203 c, and a fourth opening 203 d.In some embodiments, the openings may be distributed uniformly. Forexample, the angle between the axes of two adjacent openings may be thesame value, for example, 180 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, 72degrees, 60 degrees, 45 degrees, 30 degrees, etc. Merely by way ofexample, the angle between the axes of two adjacent openings among theopenings 203 a through 203 d may be 90 degrees. In some embodiments, theopenings may be distributed at the bottom of the recess 202 randomly oraccording to a rule. For example, more openings may be located on theupper half of the magnetic body 210 than on the lower half part of themagnetic body 210, or vice versa. In some embodiments, an opening of therecess 202 may have the shape of, for example, a rectangle, a roundedrectangle, a rhombus, a circle, a triangle, a trapezoid, an ellipse, anirregular shape, a polygon, a rounded polygon, or the like, or anycombination thereof. For example, as exemplified in FIG. 4, each of theopenings 203 a, 203 b, 203 c, and 203 d may have the shape of a circle.The openings 203 a, 203 b, 203 c, and 203 d may be of a same size ordifferent sizes. As another example, the first opening 203 a may have ashape of a rounded rectangle. Then the first opening 203 a maycorrespond to an arc of the circumference of the recess 202. The arc mayrange from 0 to 2π radians. Merely by way of example, the arc may rangefrom 1/10π radians to 3/2π radians, for example, ⅙π radians, ⅓π radians,½π radians, 1π radians, 3/2π radians, etc. An axis of an opening (e.g.,any one of the openings 203 a through 203 d) may refer to a centerlineof the opening pointing from the outside of the bore 201 to the axis 211of the bore 201 (or vice versa). As used herein, a centerline of theopening may refer to a line that passes the geometric center, the masscenter, etc., of the opening and perpendicular to the plane where theopening is located. In some embodiments, the openings 203 a, 203 b, 203c, or 203 d may also be filled up by a material that is at leastpartially radiation transparent. Merely by way of example, the materialmay slightly absorb or hinder a radiation beam generated by theradiation source 311. The material may be, e.g., epoxy resin or a lightmetal.

In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 may rotate by moving alongthe recess 202 and arrive at or pass through a position corresponding toany one of the openings 203 a through 203 d. The treatment head 310 maymove or generate the radiation beam according to parameters determinedby an original treatment plan or an adjusted treatment plan. Theoriginal treatment plan Exemplary parameters may be associated with theradiation beam, the treatment head 310, or the platform 410.

For example, parameters of the radiation beam may include an irradiatingintensity, an irradiating angle, an irradiating distance, an irradiatingarea, an irradiating time, an intensity distribution, or the like, orany combination thereof. A parameter of the radiation beam may beadjusted by adjusting the treatment head 310, the platform 410, or thelike, or a combination thereof. Parameters of the treatment head 310 mayinclude a position, a rotating angle, a rotating speed, a rotatingdirection, the configuration of the treatment head 310, or the like, orany combination thereof. For instance, the treatment head 310 mayinclude a multi-leaf collimator (MLC), The MLC may be adjusted to adjustthe irradiating area, etc., of the treatment beam. In some embodiments,the original treatment plan or the adjusted treatment plan may also takeinto consideration energy loss of the radiation beam due to, e.g., themagnetic body 210 located in the pathway of the radiation beam that mayabsorb at least a portion of the radiation beam. For example, theirradiating intensity of the radiation beam may be set larger than thatin the situation in which there is no energy loss due to, e.g., theabsorption by the magnetic body 210 accordingly to compensate the energyloss such that the radiation beam of a specific intensity may impinge ona treatment region (e.g., a tumor).

Parameters of the platform 410 may include a position, a height, arotating angle, or the like, or any combination thereof. In someembodiments, parameters of the treatment plan may be dynamicallyadjusted based on a position of a treatment region (e.g., a tumor)determined based on an MR image acquired shortly before or during atreatment. For example, such an MR image may be acquired less than 1day, or half a day, or 6 hours, or 3 hours, or 1 hour, or 45 minutes, or30 minutes, or 20 minutes, or 15 minutes, or 10 minutes, or 5 minutes,etc., before the treatment head 310 starts emitting a radiation beam fortreatment based on an original treatment plan or an adjusted treatmentplan (e.g., an original treatment adjusted based on the acquired MRimage). For example, the positon of the treatment head 310 or theplatform 410 may be adjusted so as to position the tumor on the axis 370of the radiotherapy device 300. The original treatment plan may bedetermined before the treatment commences. For instance, the originaltreatment plan may be determined at least one day, or three days, or aweek, or two weeks, or a month, etc., before the treatment commences.The treatment region may change between when the treatment plan isdetermined and when the treatment is carried out.

In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 may stop rotatingintermittently. For instance, the treatment head 310 may rotate to adesired position corresponding to an opening (e.g., any one of theopenings 203 a through 203 d), pause there, and emit a radiation beam,and then resume to rotate. In some embodiments, the treatment head 310may rotate continuously, and emit a radiation beam continuously orintermittently.

In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 may be moved to and matchedto any one of the openings 203 a, 203 b, 203 c, and 203 d to arrive at asuitable position, for example, the axis of the treatment head 310 maycoincide with the axis of an opening. Then the treatment head 310 mayemit a radiation beam. In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 mayemit the radiation beam 360 when it is positioned at a position notcorresponding to an opening (e.g., the first opening 203 a). Forinstance, the treatment head 310 may emit the radiation beam when it ispositioned at a position not corresponding to an opening (e.g., thefirst opening 203 a). Merely by way of example, the treatment head 310may continuously emit the radiation beam while rotating. If thetreatment head 310 emits the radiation beam when it is positioned at aposition not corresponding to an opening (e.g., the first opening 203a), there may be a portion of the system 100 (e.g., the magnetic body210 of the MR device 200) located in the pathway of the radiation beam360 toward the treatment region, and at least a portion of the emittedradiation beam may be absorbed by, e.g., the magnetic body 210.

It should be noted that the above description of the therapeuticapparatus 110 is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, andnot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For personshaving ordinary skills in the art, multiple variations and modificationsmay be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. For example,the assembly and/or function of the therapeutic apparatus 110 may varyor change according to a specific implementation scenario. In someembodiments, the magnetic body 210 of the MRI device 200 may also rotaterelative to the treatment head 310. For example, the radiotherapy device300 and the MRI device 200 may synchronously or asynchronously rotatearound a same axis (e.g., the axis 211 or the axis 370). However, thosevariations and modifications do not depart from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary magnetic body 210according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The magneticbody 210 may include one or more main coils (e.g., a first main coil 204a, and a second main coil 204 b) configured to generate a main magneticfield, one or more openings (e.g., a first opening 203 a, a secondopening 203 b, a third opening 203 c, and a fourth opening 203 d) in therecess 202, one or more shield coils (e.g., a first shield coil 205 aand a second shield coil 205 b), one or more bobbins (e.g., a firstbobbin 206 a and a second bobbin 206 b, a third bobbin 206 c, and afourth bobbin 206 d), one or more cooling layers (e.g., a first coolinglayer 207 a and a second cooling layer 207 b), one or more thermalinsulation layers (e.g., a first thermal insulation layer 208 a and asecond thermal insulation layer 208 b), and one or more vacuum layers(e.g., a first vacuum layer 209 a and a second vacuum layer 209 b). Insome embodiments, the one or more main coils (e.g., a first main coil204 a, and a second main coil 204 b) may be electrically connected toeach other through, e.g., an electrically conductive wire.

In some embodiments, the main coils 204 a and 204 b and/or the shieldcoils 205 a and 205 b may be superconductive at least under somecondition (e.g., when the coils are maintained at a suitabletemperature). The direction of the current in the shield coils 205 a and205 b may be opposite to the direction of the current in the main coils204 a and 204 b. An inner diameter of the shield coils 205 a and 205 bmay be greater than an external diameter of the main coils 204 a and 204b to shield an escaped magnetic field generated by the main coils 204 aand 204 b. The escaped magnetic field may attract a ferromagneticsubstance resulting in damage to or interference with the operation ofsome medical devices including, for example, the MRI device 200, aPET-RT device, etc. In some embodiments, the main coils 204 a and 204 bmay be integrated into one main coil. In some embodiments, the left partand the right part of the magnetic body 210 may share the same coolingsystem. For example, one cooling system having one inlet for freshcooling medium and one exit for the used cooling medium may cool theconnected left part and the right part of the magnetic body 210. In someembodiments, the left part and the right part of the magnetic body 210may be cooled by separate cooling devices.

In some embodiments, the depth dx1 of the recess 202 of the opening 203a and the depth dx2 of the opening (e.g., the first opening 203 a) maybe determined according to the size of the magnetic body 210, and adesired irradiating distance. In some embodiments, dx1 and dx2 may bedetermined by formulas below:

dx1=d½−d3,  (1)

dx2=d1−d2)/2−dx1,  (2)

where d1 refers to the external diameter of the magnetic body 210, d2refers to the inner diameter of the magnetic 210, and d3 refers to adistance between an end face of the treatment head 310 and the axis 211.For example, if the external diameter d1 of the magnetic body 210 is 2meters, the inner diameter d2 of the magnetic body 210 may be, forexample, 60˜70 centimeters, and the irradiating distance requirement(e.g., the distance d3 between the end face of the treatment head 310and the axis 211) may be, for example, 40˜50 centimeters. According toformulas (1) and (2), dx1 may be about 50˜60 centimeters, dx2 may beabout 5˜20 centimeters.

In some embodiments, the width w1 of the recess 202 may be determinedaccording to the size of the treatment head 310. For example, the valueof the width w1 may be larger than the width of the treatment head 310.For instance, w1 may be at least 102%, or 105%, or 108%, or 110%, or115%, or 120%, etc., of the width of the treatment head 310. In someembodiments, the width w2 of the opening (e.g., the first opening 203 a)may be of a suitable value, for example, a value not greater than w1.For instance, w1 may be at least 102%, or 105%, or 108%, or 110%, or115%, or 120%, etc., of w2.

In some embodiments, the cooling layers 207 (e.g., 207 a and 207 b asillustrated in FIG. 5) may be configured to achieve a desired uniformityand/or a desired stability of the temperature of the main coils 204 aand 204 b. For instance, a desired uniformity of the temperature of themain coils 204 a and 204 b may be that the difference between thehighest temperature and the lowest temperature within the main coils 204a and 204 b at a time point is below 20° C., or 15° C., or 10° C., or 8°C., or 5° C., or 2° C., or 1° C., etc. As used herein, a desiredstability of the temperature of the main coils 204 a and 204 b may bethat the rate or the value of the temperature change (e.g., compared toa standard temperature that is suitable for the proper operation of themain coils) in the main cons 204 a and 204 b during one operation isbelow a respective threshold. For instance, a desired stability of thetemperature of the main coils 204 a and 204 b may be that the rate ofthe temperature change in the main coils 204 a and 204 b is below 20°C./minute, or 15° C./minute, or 10° C./minute, or 8° C./minute, or 5°C./minute, or 2° C./minute, or 1° C./minute, etc. As another example, adesired stability of the temperature of the main coils 204 a and 204 bmay be that the value of the temperature change (e.g., a deviation froma standard temperature) in any portion of the main coils during oneoperation is below 20° C., or 15° C., or 10° C., or 8° C., or 5° C., or2° C., or 1° C., etc. As a further example, a desired stability of thetemperature of the main coils 204 a and 204 b may be that the rate andthe value of the temperature change (e.g., compared to a standardtemperature that is suitable for the proper operation of the main coils)in the main coils is below a respective threshold.

In some embodiments, the cooling layers 207 a and 207 b may include oneor more cooling media capable of generating or maintaining a super-lowtemperature environment. Exemplary cooling media may include liquidnitrogen, etc. The thermal insulation layers 208 a and 208 b may bemounted outside of the cooling layers 207 a and 207 b, respectively. Thevacuum layers 209 a and 209 b may be mounted outside of the thermalinsulation layers 208 a and 208 b, respectively. The main coils 204 aand 204 b may be wound around the bore 201 of the MRI device 200. Insome embodiments, the main coils 204 a and 204 b may be wound around thebobbins 205 a and 205 b, respectively. When current passes through themain coils 204 a and 204 b, a magnetic field may be generated in thebore 201 and the direction of the magnetic field may be parallel to theaxis 211. In some embodiments, the main cons 204 a and 204 b may beelectrically connected by, for example, an electrically conductive wire.The strength of the magnetic field generated by the main coils 204 a and204 b may relate to the number of turns of the main coils 204 a and 204b. The shield coils 206 a and 206 b may be wound around the bobbins 206a and 206 b, respectively.

In some embodiments, the first cooling layer 207 a and the secondcooling layer 207 b may be different parts in fluid communication of anintegrated cooling layer. The first thermal insulation layer 208 a andthe second thermal insulation layer 208 b may be different parts of anintegrated thermal insulation layer. The first vacuum layer 209 a andthe second vacuum layer 209 b may be different parts in fluidcommunication of an integrated vacuum layer. The first vacuum layer 209a and the second vacuum layer 209 b forming parts in fluid communicationmay indicate that a fluid including, for example, a gas, in theintegrated vacuum layer may fill the first vacuum layer 209 a and thesecond vacuum layer 209 b.

It should be noted that the above description is provided for thepurposes of illustration, and not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure. Apparently, for persons having ordinary skills inthe art, numerous variations and modifications may be conducted underthe teaching of the present disclosure. However, those variations andmodifications do not depart the protection scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, the size, the number, the shape, thedistribution of the recess 202 are not limited to those as exemplifiedin FIG. 5 and the description thereof. Similar modifications should fallwithin the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of some components of an exemplarytherapeutic apparatus 110 according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The recess 202 may include a first opening 203 a, a secondopening 203 b, a third opening 203 c, a fourth opening 203 d, a fifthopening 203 e, and a sixth opening 203 f. As shown in Fla 6, the sixopenings 203 a-203 f may be distributed uniformly. Each opening has acorresponding opening at the opposite position on the recess 202. Asused herein, two openings may be regarded as opposite or opposing if thetwo openings are 180 degrees apart, or if a line linking the twoopenings passes the axis 211 of the bore 201. Two opposite or opposingopenings may also be described as being located at opposite directionsor positions. Merely by way of example, the first opening 203 a has acorresponding fourth opening 203 d at the opposite direction. The arc ofan opening (e.g., any one of the six openings 203 a-203 f) may rangefrom 0 to 2π radians including, for example, 1/12π radians, 1/9πradians, ⅙π radians, etc. In some embodiments, the openings may bedistributed on the recess 202 randomly or according to a rule. Forexample, more openings may be located on the upper half of the magneticbody 210 than on the lower half of the magnetic body 210, or vice versa.In some embodiments, the openings of the recess 202 may be of the samesize or different sizes.

The region labeled 360 may be a radiation beam generated by a radiationsource 311 in the treatment head 310. A patient 610 having a treatmentregion 620 a (e.g., a tumor) may be positioned in the center (or theaxis 211) of the bore 201 and the treatment region 620 a may bepositioned at the isocenter of the radiotherapy device 300. Thetreatment head 310 located at least partially within the recess 202 mayrotate and radiate toward the treatment region 620 a Merely by way ofexample, the treatment head 310 has six positions for emittingradiation, for example, the treatment head 310 may be in a positioncorresponding to the first opening 203 a (as shown in FIG. 6). Theradiation beam 360 may travel along a path that traverses the treatmentregion 620 a In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 may also be ina position corresponding to the fourth opening 203 d.

In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 may rotate and arrive at aposition corresponding to an opening (e.g., the first opening 203 a),and emit the radiation beam 360 only when it is positioned at such aposition corresponding to an opening (e.g., the first opening 203 a).The radiation beam 360 from the treatment head 310 may reach thetreatment region without substantial absorption of the radiation beam360 by the magnetic body 210.

In some embodiments, the treatment head 310 may also rotate and may emitthe radiation beam 360 when it is positioned at a position notcorresponding to an opening (e.g., the first opening 203 a). Forinstance, the treatment head 310 may emit the radiation beam 360 when itis positioned at a position not corresponding to an opening (e.g., thefirst opening 203 a). Merely by way of example, the treatment head 310may continuously emit the radiation beam 360 while rotating. If thetreatment head 310 emits the radiation beam 360 when it is positioned ata position not corresponding to an opening (e.g., the first opening 203a), at least a portion of the emitted radiation beam 360 may be absorbedby, e.g., the magnetic body 210.

As shown in FIG. 6, the radiation source 311 may be closer to thetreatment region 620 a, because there is the recess 202 in the outerwall of the magnetic body 210 for accommodating at least part of thetreatment head 310. The first opening 203 a at the bottom of the recess202 may allow radiation beams emitted by the treatment head 310 to passthrough to reach the treatment region 620 a without substantialattenuation. In some embodiments, the reduction in the distance betweenthe treatment head 310 and the axis 211 of the bore 201 may bring aboutan increase of the radiation dose reaching the treatment region (e.g., atumor) and/or an enhancement in the therapeutic efficiency.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of some components of an exemplarytherapeutic apparatus 110 according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The recess 202 may include a seventh opening 203 g, aneighth opening 203 h, a ninth opening 203 i, and a tenth opening 203 j.As shown in FIG. 7, the seventh opening 203 g may be at the oppositeposition of the ninth opening 203 i, and the eighth opening 203 h may beat the opposite position of the tenth opening 203 j. In someembodiments, the seventh opening 203 g and/or the ninth opening 203 imay correspond to a lager arc of the circumference of the recess 202compared with the eighth opening 203 h and/or the tenth opening 203 j.The arc of the seventh opening 203 g and/or the arc of the ninth opening203 i may range from ¼π to 2π radians including, for example, ⅓πradians, ½π radians, 1π radians, 3/2π radians, etc.

In some embodiments, at least one of the seventh opening 203 g, theeighth opening 203 h, the ninth opening 203 i, or the tenth opening 203j may be optional. For example, the recess 202 may merely include theseventh opening 203 g and/or the ninth opening 203 i, or merely includethe seventh opening 203 g. In some embodiments, the positions of theseventh opening 203 g, the eighth opening 203 h, the ninth opening 203i, or the tenth opening 203 j may be changed. Merely by way of example,the seventh opening 203 g may be moved to the position of the tenthopening 203 j.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process 800 for using atherapeutic system according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, one or more operations of the process800 illustrated in FIG. 8 may be implemented in the therapeutic system100 illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the process 800 illustrated inFIG. 8 may be stored in the storage device 140 in the form ofinstructions, and invoked and/or executed by the processing engine 120and/or the controller 500. In some embodiments, the process 800 may alsobe implemented by a user.

In 810, a position of a treatment region may be determined. Operation810 may be performed by the processing engine 120, the controller 500,or a user. In some embodiments, the treatment region may be a canceroustumor or lesion. The position of the treatment region may be determinedby the MRI device 200 as described in FIG. 3 and/or FIG. 6.

In 820, a judgment may be made as to whether the position of thetreatment region is within a preset range. Operation 820 may beperformed by the processing engine 120, the controller 500, or a user.In some embodiments, the judgment may be conducted by using the MRIdevice 200. For example, the MRI device 200 may generate MRI images inreal time to determine a current position of the treatment region. Forexample, by registering the MRI image and an initial MRI image, theinformation regarding the movement of the treatment region may beobtained. In some embodiments, the preset range may be determined in thetreatment plan as described in connection with FIG. 3.

If the position of the treatment region is within the preset range, theprocess 800 may proceed to 830. In 830, the radiation beam may beemitted toward the treatment region. Operation 830 may be performed bythe processing engine 120, the controller 500, or a user. For example,when the treatment head 310 is at the suitable place, the processing120, the controller 500, and/or the user may cause the treatment head310 to emit a radiation beam toward the treatment region to carry out atreatment.

If the position of the treatment region is not within the preset range,the process 800 may proceed to 840. In 840, a corresponding action maybe performed by the therapeutic system 100. In some embodiments,operation 840 may be performed by the processing engine 120, thecontroller 500, or a user.

In some embodiments, the corresponding action may include adjusting theposition of the platform 410 and/or the treatment head 310. For example,the controller 500 may cause the platform 410 to move such that theposition of the treatment region is located within the preset range(e.g., the axis 370 of the radiotherapy device 300). As another example,the treatment head 310 may be adjusted to make the relative distancebetween the treatment head 310 and the treatment region is same withtheir former relative distance. As still another example, an adjustingangle may be determined according to the position of the treatmentregion and the position of the treatment head 310. The controller 500may cause the treatment head 310 to rotate along the recess 202 of themagnetic body 210 according to the adjusting the adjusting angle.Detailed description may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure.See, for example, FIG. 9.

In some embodiments, the corresponding action may include stopping thetreatment head 310 from emitting the radiation beam toward the treatmentregion. For example, the treatment head 310 may keep emitting theradiation beam before operation 840; in response to the determinationthat the treatment region is not within a preset range, the treatmenthead 310 may halt the emission. In some embodiments, the emission mayresume when the treatment region is adjusted to be positioned in thepreset range. In these embodiments, the MRI device 200 may act as agating device to control the emission from the treatment head 310.

In some embodiments, the corresponding action may include modifying atreatment plan. For example, if the movement of the treatment region ishuge, the process 800 may be terminated and the treatment plan may bemodified according to the movement.

Then the process 800 may proceed to 820 again to judge whether theposition of the treatment region is within a preset range. In someembodiments, the process 800 may be performed iteratively.

It should be noted that the above description of the process 800 ismerely provided for the purpose of illustration, and not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure. For persons having ordinaryskills in the art, multiple variations and modifications may be made tothe process 800 under the teachings of the present disclosure. However,those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of thepresent disclosure. For example, the position of the treatment region inoperation 810 may also be determined by a CT device, a PET device, etc.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of some components of an exemplarytherapeutic apparatus 110 according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a treatment region 620 b maydepart from the center (or the axis 211) of the bore 201 during atreatment. The parameters of the radiation beam 360 may be dynamicallyadjusted based on a position of the treatment region 620 b determinedbased on an MR image acquired shortly before or during a treatment. Forexample, such an MR image may be acquired less than 1 day, or half aday, or 6 hours, or 3 hours, or 1 hour, or 45 minutes, or 30 minutes, or20 minutes, or 15 minutes, or 10 minutes, or 5 minutes, etc., before thetreatment head 310 starts emitting a radiation beam for treatment basedon an original treatment plan or an adjusted treatment plan (e.g., anoriginal treatment adjusted based on the acquired MR image). Theadjustment may be achieved by adjusting one or more parameters orconfiguration of the treatment head 310, the platform 410, or the like,or a combination thereof. For example, the irradiating angle may beadjusted when the position of the treatment region 620 b has changed. Asanother example, the MLC of the treatment head 310 may be adjusted toadjust the irradiating angle, the irradiating area, etc., of theradiation beam 360. As a further example, the position of the platform410 may be adjusted so as to position the tumor on the center (or theaxis 211) of the bore 201 (e.g., along the axis 370 of the radiotherapydevice 300). If there is no change or the change is insignificant, thetreatment region 620 b may still be within the range of the radiationbeam 360. The sixth opening 203 a at the bottom of the recess 202 mayallow radiation beams emitted by the treatment head 310 to pass throughto reach the treatment region 620 a without substantial attenuation. Theradiation source 311 may be closer to the target treatment region 620 b,because of the recess 202 in the outer wall of the magnetic body 210.The reduction in the distance between the treatment head 310 and theaxis 211 of the bore 201 may bring about an increase of the radiationdose arriving at the treatment region 620 b and/or an enhancement in thetherapeutic efficiency.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary therapeuticapparatus 110 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.Like reference numerals in FIGS. 4 and 10 represent like structuralcomponents, the description of which may be found in the description ofFIG. 4 and/or elsewhere in the present disclosure and therefore are notrepeated here. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the treatment head 310 isplaced above the recess 202, thereby reducing interference to themagnetic field by the treatment head 310, compared with theconfiguration of the treatment head being at least partially within therecess 202 as illustrated in FIG. 4. This arrangement illustrated inFIG. 10 may obviate the need to provide a shielding device on thetreatment head, thereby simplifying the structural complexity of thetherapeutic apparatus 110. In some embodiments, the reduction in theinterference to the magnetic field may bring about an increase ofimaging quality of a treatment region (e.g., a tumor) of a subjectimaged and/or treated in the therapeutic apparatus 110. As shown in FIG.10, a top area 213 of the recess 202 may be equal to a bottom area 215of the recess 202.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary magnetic body 210according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Like referencenumerals in FIGS. 5, 10, and 11 represent like structural components,the description of which may be found in the description of FIGS. 5 and10, and/or elsewhere in the present disclosure and therefore are notrepeated here. As shown in FIG. 11, a top area 213 of the recess 202 maybe less than a bottom area 215 of the recess 202. In some embodiments,by controlling the movement (e.g., rotation) of the gantry 330 by thecontroller 500, the treatment head 310 may rotate above the recess 202of the magnetic body 210. For example, during a treatment, by rotatingthe gantry 330, a radiation beam from the treatment head 310 may bedirected toward a treatment region at any angle between the radiationbeam and the subject (e.g., 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees. 60degrees, 120 degrees).

The system illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 may include a first device 300and a second device 200. The first device 300 may include a treatmenthead 310 configured to emit a radiation beam. The second device 200 mayinclude a cylindrical body 221.

In some embodiments, the cylindrical body 221 may include a recess 202on an outer wall 219 of the cylindrical body 221. The treatment head 310may be located above the outer wall 219 of the cylindrical body 221. Insome embodiments, the cylindrical body 221 may include one or moreopenings 203 that allow passage of the radiation beam substantially freeof interference by the cylindrical body 221. The one or more openings203 may be located at a bottom 215 of the recess 202.

In some embodiments, the system may include a controller configured tocause the treatment head 310 to rotate along the recess 202 and belocated at or pass through one or more positions corresponding to theone or more openings 203. In some embodiments, the controller may beconfigured to cause an axis 223 of the treatment head 310 to match anaxis of an opening (e.g., axis 225 of the opening 203 a illustrated inFIG. 10) of the one or more openings 203 at the bottom 215 of the recess202.

In some embodiments, the system may include a bore 201 along the axis211 of the second device 200. The depth D2 along the radial direction ofthe cylindrical body 221 of the recess 202 may be determined based on anexternal diameter D1 of the cylindrical body 221, an inner diameter d ofthe cylindrical body 221, and an irradiating distance of the treatmenthead 310. In some embodiments, the irradiating distance may relate to adistance between an end face 217 of the treatment head 310 and an axis211 of the cylindrical body 221.

In some embodiments, the depth D3 along the radial direction of thecylindrical body 221 of at least one of the one or more openings 203 maybe determined according to the external diameter U of the cylindricalbody 221, the inner diameter d of the cylindrical body 221, and thedepth D2 of the recess 202.

In some embodiments, a top area 213 of the recess 202 on the outer wall219 of the cylindrical body 221 may be equal to a bottom area 215 of therecess 202, as illustrated in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the top area213 of the recess 202 on the outer wall 219 of the cylindrical body 221may be less than the bottom area 215 of the recess 202, as illustratedin FIG. 11. In some embodiments, the bottom area 215 may increases asthe bottom of the recess 202 approaches the axis 211 of the cylindricalbody 221. In some embodiments, the bottom area 215 of the recess 202 maybe equal to area of the one or more openings. In some embodiments, therecess 202 may not block transmission of the treatment beam.

In some embodiments, the one or more openings 203 may be uniformlydistributed along the recess 202. In some embodiments, an angle betweenaxes of each pair of two adjacent openings (e.g., angle a between axesof two adjacent openings 203 a and 203 b) of the one or more openings203 may be, e.g., 180 degrees, 120 degrees, 90 degrees, 60 degrees, or30 degrees. In some embodiments, the shapes of the one or more openings203 may be at least one of a rectangle, a rounded rectangle, a circle,an ellipse, a rhombus, a polygon, or a rounded polygon. In someembodiments, at least one of the one or more openings 203 may correspondto an arc of a circumference of the recess 202. In some embodiments, atleast one of the one or more openings may include a through hole. Insome embodiments, at least one of the one or more openings may be filledup by a material that is at least partially radiation transparent.

In some embodiments, the first device 300 of the system as illustratedin FIGS. 10 and 11 may include a radiotherapy device. In someembodiments, the second device 200 of the system as illustrated in FIGS.10 and 11 may include a magnetic resonance imaging device.

In some embodiments, the cylindrical body 221 may include a magneticbody 210 configured to generate a magnetic field. In some embodiments,the magnetic body 210 may include one or more main coils that areelectrically connected to each other.

In some embodiments, a method of using the system as illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11 may include at least one of the following operations. Aposition of a treatment region of a subject may be determined. Theposition of the treatment region may be determined to be within a presetrange of the system (e.g., a working area for imaging (or referred to asan imaging area) in the system, a working area for treatment (orreferred to as a treatment area) in the system, an overlap area of theimaging area and the treatment area). The treatment head 310 may becaused to emit a radiation beam toward the treatment region.

In some embodiments, if it is determined that the position of thetreatment region is outside the preset range, the position of thetreatment region of the subject may be adjusted so that the treatmentregion is positioned according to the preset range. For instance, anadjusting angle of the treatment head 310 may be determined based on theposition of the treatment region so that the treatment head 310 may beadjusted according to the adjusting angle.

Having thus described the basic concepts, it may be rather apparent tothose skilled in the art after reading this detailed disclosure that theforegoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way ofexample only and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, andmodifications may occur and are intended to those skilled in the art,though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, andmodifications are intended to be suggested by the present disclosure,and are within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Moreover, certain terminology has been used to describe embodiments ofthe present disclosure. For example, the terms “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” and/or “some embodiments” mean that a particular feature,structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Therefore, it is emphasized and should be appreciated that two or morereferences to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternativeembodiment” in various portions of this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures or characteristics may be combined assuitable in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Further, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects ofthe present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any ofa number of patentable classes or context including any new and usefulprocess, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new anduseful improvement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be implemented entirely hardware, entirely software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combiningsoftware and hardware implementation that may all generally be referredto herein as a “unit,” “module,” “or system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

Furthermore, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, orthe use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefore, is notintended to limit the claimed processes and methods to any order exceptas may be specified in the claims. Although the above disclosurediscusses through various examples what is currently considered to be avariety of useful embodiments of the disclosure, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose, and that the appendedclaims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on thecontrary, are intended to cover modifications and equivalentarrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosedembodiments. For example, although the implementation of variouscomponents described above may be embodied in a hardware device, it mayalso be implemented as a software only solution, for example, aninstallation on an existing server or mobile device.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description ofembodiments of the present disclosure, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure aiding in theunderstanding of one or more of the various inventive embodiments. Thismethod of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed subject matter requires more features thanare expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive embodiments liein less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities or propertiesused to describe and claim certain embodiments of the application are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about,”“approximate,” or “substantially.” For example, “about,” “approximate,”or “substantially” may indicate ±20% variation of the value itdescribes, unless otherwise stated. Accordingly, in some embodiments,the numerical parameters set forth in the written description andattached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon thedesired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. Insome embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in lightof the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinaryrounding techniques, Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges andparameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of theapplication are approximations, the numerical values set forth in thespecific examples are reported as precisely as practicable.

Each of the patents, patent applications, publications of patentapplications, and other material, such as articles, books,specifications, publications, documents, things, and/or the like,referenced herein is hereby incorporated herein by this reference in itsentirety for all purposes, excepting any prosecution file historyassociated with same, any of same that is inconsistent with or inconflict with the present document, or any of same that may have alimiting affect as to the broadest scope of the claims now or laterassociated with the present document. By way of example, should there beany inconsistency or conflict between the description, definition,and/or the use of a term associated with any of the incorporatedmaterial and that associated with the present document, the description,definition, and/or the use of the term in the present document shallprevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theapplication disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of theembodiments of the application. Other modifications that may be employedmay be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, butnot of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of theapplication may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein.Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited tothat precisely as shown and described.

We claim:
 1. A system comprising: a first device including a treatmenthead configured to emit a radiation beam; a second device comprising acylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body comprises a recess on anouter wall of the cylindrical body, wherein the treatment head is abovethe outer wall of the cylindrical body.
 2. The system of claim 1, thecylindrical body further including one or more openings that allowpassage of the radiation beam substantially free of interference by thecylindrical body, and the one or more openings being at a bottom of therecess.
 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a controllerconfigured to cause the treatment head to rotate along the recess and belocated at or pass through one or more positions corresponding to theone or more openings.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controlleris further configured to cause an axis of the treatment head to match anaxis of an opening of the one or more openings at the bottom of therecess.
 5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a bore along theaxis of the second device, wherein a depth along the radial direction ofthe cylindrical body of the recess is determined according to anexternal diameter of the cylindrical body, an inner diameter of thecylindrical body, and an irradiating distance of the treatment head. 6.The system of claim 5, wherein the irradiating distance relates to adistance between an end face of the treatment head and an axis of thecylindrical body.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein a depth along theradial direction of the cylindrical body of at least one of the one ormore openings is determined according to the external diameter of thecylindrical body, the inner diameter of the cylindrical body, and thedepth of the recess.
 8. The system of claim 2, wherein a top area of therecess on the outer wall of the cylindrical body is less than a bottomarea of the recess.
 9. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or moreopenings are uniformly distributed along the recess.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein an angle between axes of each pair of two adjacentopenings of the one or more openings is 180 degrees, 120 degrees, 90degrees, 60 degrees, or 30 degrees.
 11. The system of claim 2, whereinshapes of the one or more openings include at least one of a rectangle,a rounded rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, a rhombus, a polygon, or arounded polygon.
 12. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of theone or more openings corresponds to an arc of a circumference of therecess.
 13. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one ormore openings is a through hole.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein atleast one of the one or more openings is filled up by a material that isat least partially radiation transparent.
 15. The system of claim 1, thefirst device including a radiotherapy device.
 16. The system of claim 1,the second device including a magnetic resonance imaging device, thecylindrical body including a magnetic body configured to generate amagnetic field.
 17. The system of claim 16, the magnetic body furtherincluding one or more main cons that are electrically connected to eachother.
 18. A method of using a system comprising a first device and asecond device, wherein the first device includes a treatment headconfigured to emit a radiation beam, the second device includes acylindrical body, and the cylindrical body comprises a recess on anouter wall of the cylindrical body, wherein the treatment head is abovethe outer wall of the cylindrical body, the method comprising:determining a position of a treatment region of a subject; determiningthat the position of the treatment region is within a preset range; andcausing the treatment head to emit the radiation beam toward thetreatment region.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:determining that the position of the treatment region is not within thepreset range; and adjusting the position of the treatment regionaccording to the preset range.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: determining that the position of the treatment region is notwithin the preset range; determining, based on the position of thetreatment region, an adjusting angle of the treatment head; and rotatingthe treatment head according to the adjusting angle.